hermits change shells?

Skerp · 12/28/2008, 01:32 AM

Hey i was reading about hermit crabs and thought of this question. I understand that hermits leave their shell when they grow out of it and look for a new one. Should people with hermits have extra empty shells in the tank for them? Or do the common species in the marine aquarium hobby not grow much or change shells?

EllieSuz · 12/28/2008, 01:36 AM

Keeping some spare shells in larger sizes may reduce the number of snails that are killed for their shells. The problem with providing extra shells is that the crabs have very exacting criteria for new shells and we don't have any idea what that is. I have extra shells that they ignore in favor killing live Nassarius snails.

Jaded_Falcon · 12/28/2008, 06:01 AM

I have dwarf blue hermits and they LOVE to change shells! Even without molting. It seems they're never satisfied. Luckily they haven't killed any snails yet, but I've heard it happens. I gave them plenty to choose from so maybe that helps. Fun to watch them switch though.

kurquhart1 · 12/28/2008, 08:02 AM

i find this rather interesting that they do this. there little ******* critters lol

WaterKeeper · 12/28/2008, 08:33 AM

Hey, one always wants a bigger and better RV. So do snails..

12/28/2008, 01:32 AM	#1
Skerp Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 229	hermits change shells? Hey i was reading about hermit crabs and thought of this question. I understand that hermits leave their shell when they grow out of it and look for a new one. Should people with hermits have extra empty shells in the tank for them? Or do the common species in the marine aquarium hobby not grow much or change shells?

12/28/2008, 01:36 AM	#2
EllieSuz Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 3,858	Keeping some spare shells in larger sizes may reduce the number of snails that are killed for their shells. The problem with providing extra shells is that the crabs have very exacting criteria for new shells and we don't have any idea what that is. I have extra shells that they ignore in favor killing live Nassarius snails. __________________ "You can't learn this hobby one question at a time." (Mr. Tuskfish) Eileen Current Tank Info: I'm out of the hobby, but used to have a60 gal. reef, refugium in sump, Internal Mag 9 return, SC 302 skimmer, two Maxi-Jet 1200's modded, four bulb T5 Lighting, Reefkeeper Lite Controller with three PC4's, Little Fishes GFO reactor.

12/28/2008, 06:01 AM	#3
Jaded_Falcon Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Hesperia, CA Posts: 130	I have dwarf blue hermits and they LOVE to change shells! Even without molting. It seems they're never satisfied. Luckily they haven't killed any snails yet, but I've heard it happens. I gave them plenty to choose from so maybe that helps. Fun to watch them switch though. __________________ The solution for pollution is dilution. (Change your water!) Current Tank Info: 112 gal mixed reef or atleast my attempt at it!

12/28/2008, 08:33 AM	#5
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	Hey, one always wants a bigger and better RV. So do snails.. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

12/28/2008, 08:02 AM	#4
kurquhart1 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: hamilton ontario canada Posts: 141	i find this rather interesting that they do this. there little ******* critters lol